The tankless water heater market share continues to surge in the U.S. Within five years, tankless units are predicted to represent fully 25% of all residential installations. The primary factor driving this shift from traditional water heaters to tankless models is simple: no tank. That big, 30 to 50 gallon storage tank has always been a major drawback in water heater reliability and efficiency. Here’s how tankless models improve upon the conventional design:
Improved Reliability
Often requiring replacement in less than 10 years, a common residential storage tank heater typically has the shortest expected service life of any major appliance in the home.
- Mineral deposits naturally present in water accelerate internal corrosion inside the tank.
- When these water heaters fail, almost 70% of the time the result is substantial leakage or even a total tank rupture.
- Conventional storage tank water heaters are among the most common causes of acute indoor water damage. The average cost for water damage recovery after a major water heater tank rupture is over $4,000.
A tankless water heater normally lasts at least 20 years before requiring replacement. As with any plumbing fixture, minor leaks may result over time. However, since there’s no risk of a tank rupture releasing a large volume of water, the potential for major water damage is greatly reduced. Tankless units installed indoors typically incorporate a metal drain pan that effectively contains any minor leakage and conveys it away through a discharge pipe.
Enhanced Efficiency
Water inside a storage tank heater inevitably cools when the unit is on standby, requiring repeated reheating to maintain the desired temperature. This results in more gas consumption and higher monthly bills.
A tankless model heats water on-demand. When someone opens a hot water tap, the compact heater actuates and heats the flow of water passing through the unit. When demand for hot water stops, the heater shuts off. Since there’s no water stored inside a tank, standby heat losses are eliminated and efficiency is enhanced. A tankless unit can be at least 25% more energy efficient than a storage tank model with similar capacity.
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